101 Kicks in the Butt

You have 100 reasons for losing motivation to run. But we can top 'em with tips, inspiring quotes, and more. Pick your fix. Repeat as necessary.

1. Create a blog where you post your daily mileage, then give out the address to your friends and family. Do you really want Aunt Ellen to ask why you skipped your four-miler on Wednesday?

2. Mama, get a new pair of shoes. There's nothing like those first few runs in a new pair of your favorite training shoes. Buy a pair now, then keep them in the box until you really need help getting out the door.

3. Running commentary: “Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, ‘Are you going to be a wimp, or are you going to be strong today?’” —Peter Maher, two-time Olympic marathoner from Canada

4. Go soft. It's hard to stay motivated with shin splints, so get off the pavement for a few days and run on a dirt road, mountain trail, or unpaved bike path.

5. Look to the past. Emil Zatopek, who won four Olympic golds in his career, was a tough-as-nails athlete known for his intense training methods, such as running in Army boots. Competing with a gland infection and against his doctor's orders, the Czech won three distance events—including the marathon—at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. That stuffy nose doesn't seem quite so bad now, does it?

6. Forget time. Shane Bogan, who coaches distance runners in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore area, advises leaving your watch at home once in a while. “It's liberating not to be worried about pace,” Bogan says.

7. Sign up now for a winter marathon in a warm state. Every training mile you log takes you closer to that winter getaway in toasty Phoenix, Florida, or Las Vegas.

8. Think fast. The runners Christy Coughlin coaches in Wilmette, Illinois, always get a boost from this simple negative-splits workout: Run for 20 minutes as slowly as you want, then turn around and run home faster. “The long warmup helps you feel great and run faster on the way back,” says Coughlin.

9. Good-To-Go Playlist

Classic Rock

“Don't Stop Me Now,” Queen

“Break on Through,” The Doors

“Gimme Shelter,” Rolling Stones

“Come Together” the Beatles

“What Do You Do for Money Honey,” AC/DC

For more playlists, see our collection of runner-tested sets.

10. Blaze a new path. “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,” wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson, who was no doubt referring to some runners' habit of doing the same few loops over and over again. There's a whole world out there. Explore it.

11. Make your favorite iced drink, then head out for a three-miler. The sooner you get back, the cooler your drink is.

12. Every mile you run burns roughly 100 calories. Think of that next six-miler as two slices of pizza.

13. Running commentary: “No one can say, ‘You must not run faster than this or jump higher than that.’ The human spirit is indomitable.” —Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to run a sub-four-minute mile

14. The Boston Marathon is more enticing than ever. Think you can get there? Go here for qualifying times and other registration info.

15. Race odd distances for an instant PR. Many local running clubs offer needed breaks from races of the same old distances. Tackle a 2-miler, a 7-miler, or one of the classic New England races (11.6 miles, anyone?) for a sure shot at a personal best.

16. Read this: The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner, a short story by Alan Sillitoe, tells the tale of a rebellious youth in a reformatory who runs in solitude and makes a stand against a system he doesn't believe in. You'll have new appreciation for the power of solo runs.

17. Play in the street. Skip a dreaded track workout for a fartlek (Swedish for “speed play”) session. After 10 minutes of easy jogging, run hard between two telephone poles, then slow down until you pass three. Then see if you can get to the traffic light before it changes, followed by a jog to the next mailbox. There are no set rules, so make it up as you go along.

18. The pile of dishes in the sink can wait till the sun goes down. Your tempo run can't.

19. Run at lunch. Daniel Sheil, a marathon coach in Portland, Oregon, recommends lunchtime runs for two reasons: (1) You get your workout in before the day gets away from you; (2) You get a midday break from work stress.

20. Running commentary: “The more I run, the more I want to run, and the more I live a life conditioned and influenced and fashioned by my running. And the more I run, the more certain I am that I am heading for my real goal: to become the person I am.” —George Sheehan, M.D., beloved former RW columnist and author of Running & Being

21. That new running watch you want? Buy it—after timing 10 more speed sessions with your old one.

22. Watch this: “Chariots of Fire” In this stirring 1981 Oscar winner for Best Picture, two British athletes prepare for and compete in the 1924 summer Olympics. For bonus motivation, download the famous Vangelis theme to listen to on tomorrow's run.

23. Wear a pedometer on your run. Distance sounds more impressive in steps. Some tricked-out sports watches also record steps.

24. Buddy up. There's probably a fellow runner living closer than you think. Introduce yourself to other runners you regularly see, and you might just find yourself a training partner from two streets away.

25. Look to the past. In 1949, 9-year-old Wilma Rudolph learned to walk without leg braces after suffering from polio and spending most of her first years in bed. Rudolph went on to win three gold medals in the 1960 Olympics.

26. Have a daily goal. Scott Jurek, seven-time champion of The Western States 100-Miler, sets goals not just for big races but also for workouts. “Maybe it is a technique goal, maybe a pace goal, maybe a goal of running faster at the end,” he says.

27. Make a massage appointment for the day after your long run.

28. Watch this: Baseball had Babe Ruth. Basketball had Michael Jordan. American distance running had Steve Prefontaine. Doesn't matter that he wasn't the best ever—he was the sport's rock star. “Prefontaine” (1997) and “Without Limits” (1998) both capture Pre's cocky swagger. Or check out the 1995 documentary “Fire on the Track: The Steve Prefontaine Story.”

29. Get yourself a hearty dog who needs lots of exercise. You'll always have a reason for a daily jog. Learn the best breeds for running and more here.

30. Good-To-Go Playlist

Country

“Cocaine Blues,” Johnny Cash

“Ain't Going Down (Til the Sun Comes Up),” Garth Brooks

“Wide Open Spaces,” Dixie Chicks

“Chasin' That Neon Rainbow,” Alan Jackson

“The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” The Charlie Daniels Band

For more playlists, see our collection of runner-tested sets.

31. Run through the rain. With rain hitting you sideways and the wind whipping your face, you'll feel alive. Just make sure you have a dry pair of shoes for tomorrow.

32. Read this: The cult classic Once a Runner, by John L. Parker Jr., captures the hard work and dedication required of fictional collegiate miler Quenton Cassidy.

33. Running commentary: “A lot of people run a race to see who's fastest. I run to see who has the most guts.” —Steve Prefontaine

34. Feel a need for speed. Sometimes you need the thrill of moving your legs as fast as they can go. To get the wind blowing through your hair, try six to eight 200-meter repeats at your mile race pace.

35. For emergency use only. Consider taking a short break from running if you think you've got the beginning of an overuse injury or you're truly fatigued. A couple days of rest may be the thing to reinvigorate you. Call this one instant running motivation for three days from now.

36. Quotes ahoy! Go to our quotes page for a compendium of motivation and wisdom.

42. Go early. Rather than putting off a run, head out even earlier than usual when you're not in the mood to work out. Waiting for the perfect time to run usually just means more unhelpful mulling.

43. Look to the past. Billy Mills came out of nowhere in the 1964 Olympics to become the only American to win a gold medal in the 10,000 meters. Mills's PR at the time was nearly a minute slower than that of Australia's Ron Clarke. With 100 meters to go, Mills sprinted ahead, improving his PR and setting a new Olympic record.

44. Dress silly. To change things up, go for a run in non-running clothes. You can occupy yourself imagining what passersby are thinking.

45. Good-To-Go Playlist

Alternative Rock

“Beautiful Day,” U2

“Run in Place,” The Nadas

“Seven Nation Army,” The White Stripes

“Take Me Out,” Franz Ferdinand

“Get Free,” The Vines

“Just (You Do It to Yourself),” Radiohead

For more playlists, see our collection of runner-tested sets.

46. Pay yourself. Set a price for attaining a certain weekly mileage goal. When you hit it, pay up. Keep your mileage money in a jar, and once it accumulates, buy yourself that new running jacket you've been ogling.

48. Get wet. When it gets hot out, Washington, D.C.-area coach Bruce Gross suggests logging your miles by running in the deep end of a pool while wearing a flotation vest. Gross tells his runners to break it up by going hard for five minutes, then resting for one minute. Work up to an hour.

49. Race results stay on google forever.

50. Turn things around. Poor performances are motivators for most elite runners. Rather than ruminate on an off day, look forward to proving to yourself that you're a better runner than your last showing.

51. Been marathoning for years? Maybe it's time to try an ultra. Or the mile.

52. Become a running mentor. Once you get your neighbor, coworker, or significant other hooked on your favorite sport, they'll be counting on your continued support and guidance—and company.

53. Feeling tired? Instead of taking the day off, throw some walk breaks into your run. Use the breaks to refuel, stretch out sore muscles, or get inspired by the scenery.

54. Head for the hills. When you need a boost, attack a hill workout. You can't do hills halfhearted.

55. Watch this: “Saint Ralph” In this 2005 Canadian film, a teenager sets out to win the 1954 Boston Marathon, thinking this is the “miracle” required to wake his mother from a coma.

56. Run for a reason. Do a race for charity. Helping kids with diabetes or women with breast cancer makes it much easier to get out the door.

57. Dust off your track spikes. Most states have Olympic-style summer games where you can compete in events like the mile or the 400-meter hurdles. If you're really looking for a change of pace, train for a field event like the long jump.

58. Running commentary: “Workouts are like brushing my teeth; I don't think about it, I just do it. The decision has already been made.” —Patti Sue Plumer, U.S. Olympian

59. Remember that you almost always feel better after a run than before it.

60. Look to the past. Roger Bannister and John Landy (the only two men to have broken four minutes in the mile at the time) raced at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver in what was billed as “The Miracle Mile.” Landy led for most of the race, but Bannister passed him on the final turn—proving it ain't over till it's over.

61. Running commentary: “If you want to become the best runner you can be, start now. Don't spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it.” —Priscilla Welch, who won the 1987 New York City Marathon at age 42

62. Keep a log. A record of your training can help keep you honest. Do you really want to have to put in a “0” on what was supposed to be a running day?

63. Make a connection. Instead of bars, go to road races to find potential dates. You already know you have at least one common interest.

64. Bring home some hardware. Okay, so you're not going to win the Chicago Marathon, but that doesn't mean you can't score a trophy. Find a few small local races where you might be able to compete for the top spots in your age group.

65. Don't expect every day to be better than the last. Some days will be slower than others, and some days might even hurt a bit. But as long as you're on the road, it's a good day.

66. If you don't run road races, where will you get all your T-shirts?

67. Just start. If the thought of running your full workout is too much to bear, just suit up to run around the block. Chances are, once you're outside, you'll start to feel better and put in at least a few miles.

68. Read this: Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, by Kenny Moore. Learn about Bill Bowerman, one of the most famous track and field coaches of the last century and cofounder of Nike. You'll be surprised how the legend initiated his new runners at the University of Oregon.

69. Run solo and away from the crowds on recovery days. The faster runners on popular routes will make you want to pick up the pace. Alone, you'll be able to listen to your body and reap the recovery you deserve.

70. Running commentary: “Those who say that I will lose and am finished will have to run over my body to beat me.” —Said Aouita, 1984 5000 meter Olympic gold medalist

71. You're never too old for a gold star, says Sacramento-area running coach Shauna Schultz. Plan your workouts a week in advance, then place a star sticker on the calendar for each day you meet your goal. “Visualizing your progress in this manner is very encouraging,” Schultz says.

72. Think you don't have time to run? You can probably make a list longer than this one of things you're wasting time on today. Cut one of them out and get the run in.

73. Focus on the competition. Think about that runner who seems always to finish right in front of you. If you get out the door today, your next race could be the one where you finish first.

74. Become a race director. If you live in a small town with no road races, start your own. Most towns have some sort of yearly celebration in the summer, and you can tie the race to that. Work with local track and cross-country teams to help promote it.

75. Run an errand—literally. Run to get cash at the ATM, buy that lottery ticket for the mega-million-dollar prize, or drop your car off at the garage and run home.

76. Check the weather. If you know it's going to be 110 degrees by 2 p.m., run early in the morning. Terrible thunderstorms on Saturday? There's your day off. Proactive scheduling now will give you fewer excuses later.

77. Good-To-Go Playlist

Guilty Pleasures

“Good Vibrations,” Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch

“Toxic,” Britney Spears

“Lovefool,” The Cardigans

“Flagpole Sitta,” Harvey Danger

“Fergalicious,” Fergie

For more playlists, see our collection of runner-tested sets.

78. Quit running in circles. Andy Steinfeld, who coaches marathon runners in Maryland, says group “point to point” runs are a fun way to mix things up. His runners head out for 12 to 20 miles, then refuel at a local restaurant before hopping on the subway to ride back to the starting point.

79. Watch this: “Endurance.” This 1999 docudrama shows how Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie became one of the best distance runners of all time.

80. Create conflict. Drew Ludtke, head women's track and cross-country coach at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois, says his runners are sometimes too social. So he tells them to imagine that the runner next to them just stole their boyfriend, which amps up the competition—and the fun.

81. Run trails to challenge your body and mind. “Trails are a fantastic way to give your training a change of pace,” says Long Beach, California, coach Todd Rose. Rose advises always running trails with a partner and a phone to stay safe.

83. Be realistic with your training. Sticking to a schedule of three workouts per week feels a lot better than quitting a more demanding plan. Go to runnersworld.com/smartcoach to customize your training program.

84. Live in the now. Seven-time Western States champ Scott Jurek focuses on the moment to get him through rough spots. “I tune in to my breath, technique, and my current pace, and I stay away from what lies ahead,” he says. This is especially helpful when “what lies ahead” is another 99 miles.

85. Get some perspective. Eritrean-born Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi listens to songs about his former country's struggle for independence from Ethiopia when he needs a boost.

86. Buy a full-length mirror and make sure you look in it every day.

87. Running commentary: “If I am still standing at the end of the race, hit me with a board and knock me down, because that means I didn't run hard enough.” —Steve Jones, former marathon world record holder

88. Read this: Life at These Speeds, by Jeremy Jackson. When an entire track team is killed on the way home from a meet at the beginning of this novel, star Kevin Schuler, who rode home with his parents, is left to pick up the pieces. Sad but stirring.

89. Good-To-Go Playlist

Silence

Leave the music at home and see how you like it. Sometimes, the rhythm of your own breathing is the most inspiring thing of all.

91. Keep looking forward. Most of us are in shape to get in shape. How will you know how good you can be if you never truly explore your potential?

92. Forget about the big picture every now and then. Put away your training manual and your race calendar. Quit overthinking it. Run for today.

93. Try a tri. Logging a chunk of your weekly miles in the pool and on the bike for a triathlon can reinvigorate your mind and body—and running.

94. Sale away. When running coach Christine Hinton is feeling unmotivated, she heads out for what she calls a “Garage Sale Run.” “I take some cash or my checkbook with me and run in search of garage sales,” Hinton says. “When I find one, I stop briefly to check out the goods. I tell you, I have found some good stuff that I've picked up later with the car.”

95. Running commentary: “The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare.” —Juma Ikangaa, 1989 New York City Marathon champion

96. A healthy runner is a happy runner. As soon as you feel like you might be coming down with something, pamper yourself: Eat more healthfully (think lots of fruits and veggies) and get extra rest. A little prevention today means you won't be debating next week whether you're too sick to run.

97. Listening to your feet crunch gravel for an hour can erase a day's worth of stress.

98. Invest in good gear. For beginners, this may mean a good pair of running shoes to avoid injuries and technical clothes made of fabric that wicks away moisture and prevents chafing. For others, experimenting with the latest GPS unit or shoe pod can be a fun way to track training progress and stay motivated.

99. Be creative. If the idea of going on your regular four-miler just sinks you further into your recliner, remember that there are other ways to put in some miles—like a pickup game of soccer, flag football, or ultimate Frisbee. A soccer midfielder runs up to six miles in a regulation 90-minute game.

100. Don't waste good time. Remember the last time you were injured and couldn't run? Remember how more than anything in the world you wanted to go for a run and feel good? Never take for granted the gift of being able to go for a run today.

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